Recent news in Libya has been marked by the decision of the Attorney General to issue a provisional detention order against eight people involved in the management of the country’s dams and hydraulic resources. This decision follows the deadly floods which hit the town of Derna following the failure of two dams.
According to information provided by the Attorney General’s Office, the individuals concerned hold or have held positions of responsibility within the department of hydraulic resources or dam management in Libya. They face accusations of mismanagement and negligence.
Among those placed in pre-trial detention, we also find the mayor of Derna, Abdulmonem al-Ghaithi, who was dismissed from his post after the disaster.
Storm Daniel, which hit eastern Libya in September, caused the two dams upstream of the town of Derna to break, leading to a devastating flood. The floods that followed caused thousands of deaths and thousands more are still missing.
This decision by the Attorney General comes following demonstrations which took place in Derna to demand accountability from the local authorities, deemed responsible for the disaster.
It is important to note that cracks in the dams had been reported as early as 1998, but no action was taken to remedy the situation. An investigation also revealed the existence of a contract between the Libyan water department and a Turkish company responsible for maintaining the dams, as well as disproportionate payments made in 2014, despite violations of the contract by the Turkish company.
These tragic events highlight the need for good management of hydraulic infrastructure and dams, as well as increased vigilance for signs of deterioration. Libya has abundant oil resources, but this should not obscure the importance of investing in other key sectors such as water and infrastructure.
Hopefully this investigation will shed light on who was responsible for this disaster and help to strengthen prevention and risk management measures in the future. The security and well-being of citizens must always remain at the center of the authorities’ concerns.